A WHITEHAVEN man given unpaid work for having a knuckleduster asked to swap his punishment for a fine, prompting a warning that his sentence is not like choosing pick-'n'-mix sweets at Woolworths.

Alexander Bowman, 23, refused to carry out his 80-hours unpaid work, claiming it made him too anxious, Carlisle Crown Court heard. He also claimed he was too busy because his employment involved working seven days a week.

But after submissions from prosecutor Tim Evans, who referred the once popular pick-'n'-mix sweets section of the now-defunct store Woolworths, a Judge warned Bowman that his non-cooperation could land him in jail.

In June last year, Bowman, of Devon Road, Whitehaven, was given a community order for carrying an offensive weapon, a knuckleduster.

After the offence was outlined, his defence barrister told the court Bowman had turned his back on drugs and found work as an apprentice.

But the defendant was put back before a judge for his steadfast refusal to complete his unpaid work hours. Mr Evans told the judge: “This court is not Woolworths, which was famous for its pick-'n'-mix sweets section."

The barrister outlined a meeting Bowman had with probation staff when he said he would not complete his unpaid work and suggested that the court could instead impose a financial penalty for his offending.

Mr Evans said: “This defendant claims he’s working seven days a week.

“I am asking for this case to be adjourned for 14 days for Mr Bowman to provide evidence of his seven days a week employment; and for him to come to a decision on whether he thinks he is at Woolworths, choosing what suits him or whether he thinks this is a courtroom.”

The barrister warned that if Bowman failed to do the work that was part of his community order, he may find that court chooses to impose 'something altogether less sweet' – namely a jail sentence instead of unpaid work.

It was the defendant’s second breach of his community order, added Mr Evans.

From the dock of the court, Bowman said he had provided probation staff with sick notes for his anxiety, saying he was able to do his usual job because he worked alongside the same people every day.

“These orders are made as a direct alternative to being locked up,” Recorder Tony Hawks told the defendant. “If you want to be locked up, the courts are always prepared to accommodate you with that.

“So, it’s up to you. You will have to come back here in 14 days with proper proof of your employment. It’s a matter for you whether you are represented.

“You have 14 days to sort this out, otherwise you are going to prison because community order are a direct alternative to being locked up.”